GYPSY MOTH

The gypsy moth is a destructive, exotic forest pest that was accidentally introduced into the United States in 1869. It is currently established throughout the Northeast and parts of the upper Midwest.

The Office of Plant Industry Services manages the gypsy moth program across the Commonwealth. Program areas include: Suppression, Slow the Spread, Quarantine and Regulatory .

Gypsy Moth Suppression

The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services cooperates with the U.S. Forest Service and localities to suppress gypsy moth populations and protect contiguously forested areas with priority to residential, forested and high-use public recreational areas. This program is locally based with infested localities determining their own level of participation. Requirements for participation can be found in the Virginia Gypsy Moth Suppression Program Guidelines. Federal cost-share money may be available for participating localities.

Suppression Information for County Coordinators

Gypsy Moth Slow the Spread

Virginia participates in the Gypsy Moth Slow the Spread Foundation, which establishes a formal framework for cooperation among states and the U.S. Department of Agriculture to slow the spread of the gypsy moth.

The Office of Plant Industry Services conducts annual surveys at the edge of the generally infested area in an effort to find low gypsy moth populations. The goal of the Slow the Spread program is early detection so that these small gypsy moth infestations can be more easily managed.

Gypsy Moth Quarantine & Regulatory

The goal of the Virginia Gypsy Moth Quarantine is to prevent the artificial movement of the gypsy moth from areas which are infested (quarantine area) to those areas which are not infested. The Office of Plant Industry Services conducts gypsy moth surveys each year to determine when population levels warrant adding new localities to the quarantine.

The gypsy moth regulatory program provides assistance to businesses which may be impacted by requirements of the Virginia Gypsy Moth Quarantine. Businesses moving regulated articles must ensure that these articles are free of the gypsy moth. The Office of Plant Industry Services can conduct inspections or enter into compliance agreements with impacted businesses to allow for self-inspections and certification of regulated articles. To obtain information about compliance agreements, please contact 804.786.3515.

If you are planning to move a recreational vehicle, shed, outdoor furniture, equipment or toys from an area infested with the gypsy moth to an area that is not infested, visit YourMoveGypsyMothFree.com to see how you can conduct an inspection and ensure compliance with state and federal gypsy moth quarantines.